Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Introduction

When severe weather causes flooding on a widespread scale, the Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection may activate the Humanitarian
Assistance Scheme. This income-tested scheme provides emergency financial
assistance to households who are not able to meet costs for essential needs
immediately following flooding. The scheme aims to provide financial support to
people who have suffered damage to their home. It is designed to alleviate
hardship rather than provide full compensation for damage.

Rules

What is covered by the scheme?

1. Emergency income support payments.

2. Damage to your home and its essential contents, such as:

Carpets

Flooring

Furniture

Household appliances and bedding.

3. Structural damage may also be considered.

What is not covered under the scheme?

Losses covered by an insurance policy

Loss of items deemed to be inessential or luxury items

Commercial and business losses

Loss or damage to private rented accommodation or local authority
accommodation

Income test

The income test determines your household’s ability to meet the costs of
restoring your home to a habitable condition. All household income will be
considered.

Single people: If you have a gross household income of
€30,000 or less you will get 100% of the amount allowable. For each whole
€1,000 of household income above €30,000 you will be required to make a 1%
contribution to the amount allowable.

For example, if you are single and have a gross household income of
€35,000 you will get 95% of the amount allowable (€5,000 over the income
limit of €30,000 = 5% personal contribution towards the loss).

Couples: If you are married, in a civil partnership or
cohabiting and have a combined, gross, household income of €50,000 or less
you will get 100% of the amount allowable. For each whole €1,000 of household
income above €50,000 you will be required to make a 1% contribution to the
amount allowable.

For example, if you are married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting and
have a combined, gross, household income of €65,000, you will get 85% of the
amount allowable (€15,000 over the income limit of €50,000 = 15% personal
contribution to the loss).

Children: The income limits are increased by €10,000 for
each qualified child.

One-parent household: The income limits that apply to
couples also apply to one-parent households - €50,000 plus €10,000 for each
dependent child.

Non-dependent adult household members: For each
non-dependent adult member of the household 20% of their gross income is added
to the household income.

For example, a couple with a gross income of €45,000 with a non-dependent
adult in the house with an income of €20,000 will receive 100% of the amount
allowable as the household income is less than €50,000 (€45,000 + €4,000
[€20,000 x 20%] = €49,000).

People who opted not to insure: If you had no insurance and
you do not have reasonable grounds for not having insurance, you will be
expected to contribute the first €2,000 toward the amount allowable and your
personal contribution will be 2% for each whole €1,000 above the appropriate
income level for your household.

How much can be paid to individual applicants?

Levels of payment will depend on the relative severity of damage experienced
and your ability to meet these costs.

Where the cost of structural repairs is estimated to be in excess of
€5,000, the Department will get advice from a loss adjustor appointed by the
Department.